| abstract |
A method for killing tumor cells in vivo entails providing replication competent herpes simplex virus vectors to tumor cells. A replication competent herpes simplex virus vector, with an essential herpes simplex virus gene which is driven by a tumor-specific or cell-specific promoter that specifically destroys tumor cells and is not neurovirulent. Also, a method for producing an animal model, by ablating a specific cell type in vivo, entails providing replication competent herpes simplex virus vectors to the animal. Such a vector, with an essential herpes simplex virus gene driven by a cell- or tissue-specific promoter, specifically destroys the target cell type. This method of viral-mediated gene therapy employs cell-specific viral replication, where viral replication and associated cytotoxicity are limited to a specific cell-type by the regulated expression of an essential immediate-early (IE) viral gene product. |